Sarbojaya and Surabala
Written words last forever. Women and children in masterly works of fiction are endearing characters. The endearment lasts a lifetime. In Bengali literature Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay is a touching tale of the struggle of ordinary people. Apu is the protagonist of the tale but Sarbojaya the enduring mother and Durga, the mirthful village girl melts the heart. Sarbojaya is an iconic mother of dignity in distress, of perseverance in privation. In such trying circumstances the woman in the house can become contemptuous and resentful. On no occasion she is found to be dismissive of the clerical aristocracy of Harihar whenever he speaks of an opportunity of a breakthrough or when he tries to hold a picture of better days. Sarbojaya remains quietly differential of her husband. But Harihar too surrenders to fate admitting that there is no sense in burrowing into such misery for days on.
Sarbojaya's dignity never bows its head in raising her children. Durga, on the other hand, is a chirpy village girl singing the song of life. When they are unwelcome in a festivity she will not allow Apu's spirits to wilt telling him to go to a place where there is greater fun. Her sense of zestful discovery is how she kept her mind unbound in the indignities of poverty. She takes Apu on an adventure of getting a glimpse of a locomotive chugging on billowing black smoke. The poor little girl finds a place in the heart!
Tagore is regarded as one of the three great short story writers of world literature. His Ek Ratri is a tale of love lost to the blunders of fanciful thinking of youth, of love that was there for asking, of fancy crashing to the realities of ordinary life and of love neglected returning so near but beyond reach.
Surabala was famed for her beauty; a charming face, a pair of lovely dark eyes and dark eyelashes. He looked on her as his own to possess as a boorish youth would think. To that extent he lorded over her sometimes subjecting her to unkind treatment. His model was Nilratan who left for the city and became a clerk in the court. So, he too went to the city! He became absorbed with fanciful thinking about his career.
News came from home that the two families were thinking of his marriage with Surabala. He informed that he did not have the time for marriage. Garibaldi and Mazzini occupied this thinking! But he became a side kick political worker; setting chairs and tables for public meeting, pasting posters and even getting into scuffles. In the meantime Surabala had been married away to Ramlochan.
On learning that his father had suddenly died, he returned home. His dreams ended there. He became a second school master in distant Noakhali. There he learned that Ramlochan lives nearby. What designs destiny had for him there. When he visited Ramlochan's house he could hear the soft clinging of bangles, the rustle of the creases of her sari and even the sound of her footsteps. Surabala was behind the curtain.
One who could have been his for asking; she is now beyond his reach for life.
The appointed meeting came! The town was struck by a tidal bore. Ramlochan was away on business. Tidal water started rising. He took shelter on the embankment of the pond. In the darkness of the night he saw a woman taking shelter on the other side of the embankment. She was Surobala. There was no talk. Water came down, the cyclone became weaker and the night ended. The woman in the dark came down and went home. Destiny's tryst was over.
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